While learning about modern security operations, one question immediately came to mind: are SOC analysts still needed as automation becomes more advanced? That question came up when I explored SOAR platforms and how they fit into day-to-day SOC work.
What SOAR is designed to do
SOAR, which stands for Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response, is designed to reduce the workload on SOC analysts by handling repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Instead of analysts manually jumping between tools and alerts, SOAR platforms help coordinate workflows across the security stack.
For anyone with a background in scripting or automation, SOAR feels like a natural evolution of how security operations scale.
The core components of SOAR
SOAR platforms are typically built around three core components that work together to support security operations.
Orchestration
Orchestration focuses on gathering and correlating data from multiple security tools. This can include SIEMs, EDR solutions, firewalls, and other log or telemetry sources. By bringing this data together, SOAR provides better context for decision-making.
Automation
Automation uses playbooks to execute predefined workflows. These playbooks handle repetitive tasks such as alert enrichment, data lookups, and initial investigation steps. Automation helps reduce analyst fatigue and speeds up response times.
Response
The response component allows security teams to take action when a threat is identified. This can include actions like disabling accounts, isolating endpoints, or blocking network connections, depending on organizational policies.
Does SOAR replace SOC analysts?
With this level of automation, it’s reasonable to ask whether human analysts are still necessary. The short answer is yes.
SOAR does not eliminate the need for SOC analysts. It supports them by removing repetitive work and reducing noise, but complex decision-making still requires human judgment.
During mitigation, analysts often need to evaluate the impact of automated actions, adapt responses to unexpected conditions, or design new mitigation plans when a predefined playbook does not succeed. Many playbooks are intentionally designed to pause and request analyst approval at key steps.
Key takeaway
SOAR platforms do not replace SOC analysts. They amplify their effectiveness by automating routine tasks and allowing analysts to focus on investigation, reasoning, and improving security processes.
Rather than removing humans from the loop, SOAR reinforces the importance of skilled analysts in modern security operations.
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